Fire blanket spreader



March 20, 193 A. w. LAWSON El AL FIRE BLANKET SPREADER Filed June 20, 1932 lNVENTORs. WW

Patented Meezo, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FIRE BLANKET SPREADER Delaware Application June 20, 1932, Serial No. 618,286

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a spreader device such as is particularly applicable for spreading a blanket over burning material to extinguish the fire.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which latter- Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the spreader device. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the device with parts broken away.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing the preferred means for fastening the fire blanket roll to the forked arms;

Fig. 6 is a detailed view of the latching means for the resilient rod; and

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the spreader device with the blanket unrolled to extinguish a Referring particularly to the drawing, the device comprises a frame including a tubular end 1 which is secured to forked arms 2 and 3. The frame is preferably formed of material such as aluminum or steel tubing which is light in construction and will withstand fire. The handle 1 may be formed of tubing approximately 1 in diameter while the forked arms are formed of tubing of lesser diameter. Preferably the forked arms are secured to a portion only of the open end of the handle as is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 to leave a passageway through the end of the handle for a purpose to be later described. Suitable hand pieces 5 are secured to the handle.

A blanket 6 rolled upon a tubular roll '7 is rotatably mounted between the arms. The roll '7 is supported at one end by a shoulder 8 projecting from the arm 2. The roll 7 is rotatably supported by the arm 3 through the following arrangement of parts: The arm 3 is flattened at 10 and the flattened portion carries exteriorly of the fork a nipple 11 which is mounted or otherwise secured to the arm 3. The nipple communicates with the opening in the flattened portion 10. The nipple and walls of the opening constitute a bearing for a pin 12. The pin 12 constitutes a bearing for the roll 7 on which the blanket is rolled. The pin is secured in the sleeve by means of a bayonet joint connection. This construction permits of rapid assembly and disassembly of the blanket roll upon the frame.

A weighted bar 15 is attached to the end of the blanket 6 and is freely supported upon brackets 16 and 17 which depend from the under side of the free end of the forked arms 2 and 3 respectively. The brackets form an open slot with the arms 2 and 3 to permit the weighted bar 15 to be pushed therefrom by a suitable releasing device operated from the handle.

The releasing device comprises a rod 20 which is slidably disposed longitudinally of and within the handle. The rod 20 protrudes from the opening in the end of the handle 1 and is secured to a transversely extending bar 21. The bar 21 extends between the forked arms 2 and 3 of the roll of blanket 6. Fingers 23 and 24 project forwardly from the ends of the bar 21 laterally of and on the under side of the roll 7 and terminate in plates 25 and 26 in position to engage the weighted bar 15 to remove the bar 15 from its supporting brackets upon reciprocation of the handle 20. The handle 20 is provided with a hand piece 28 and with a latching device 29. The weight of the falling bar 15 causes the blanket to be unrolled whereby the blanket can be spread over the flame.

The device described is particularly suitable to be used by an operative for spreading a blanket of fire proof material such as asbestos over tank 30 manholes, hatches, or other openings when fire is burning at such openings for the purpose of extinguishing the fire by smothering the flame. The device permits of the operative standing at a safe distance from the flame.

Various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims in which it is desired to claim all novelty inherent in the invention as broadly as the prior art permits.

We claim:

1. A spreader device, comprising a frame including forked arms, a roll mounted for rotation between the arms and carrying a blanket rolled thereon, a weight supported by the arms and attached to the end of the blanket, and means associated with the frame for freeing the weight from the arms whereby the blanket is unrolled by the falling weight.

2. A blanket spreader, comprising a frame including a handle and forked arms, a roll mounted for rotation between the arms and carrying a blanket rolled thereon, a weight supported by the arms and attached to the end of the blanket, and means carried by the handle for freeing the weight from the arms whereby the blanket is unrolled by the falling weight.

3. A blanket spreader, comprising a frame including forked arms, a roll mounted for rotation between the arms and carrying a blanket rolled thereon, a weighted bar supported by the arms and attached to the end of the blanket, and a rod associated with the frame slidable to and from the bar for removing the bar from the arms whereby the blanket is unrolled by the falling weight.

4. A blanket spreader comprising a frame including a tubular handle and forked arms, a roll rotatably carried by the arms and carrying a blanket rolled thereon, a bracket projecting from each arm, a weighted bar attached to the end of the blanket and freely supported by the brackets, and means associated with the frame for removing the bar from the brackets whereby the blanket is unrolled by the weight of the falling bar.

5. A blanket spreader, comprising a frame including a tubular handle associated with forked arms, a roll rotatably carried by the arms and carrying a blanket rolled thereon, a bracket projecting from each arm, a weighted bar attached to the end of the blanket and supported by the brackets, and a rod slidably disposed Within the handle and having a forked end positioned to engage the end portions of the bar for removing the bar from the brackets whereby the weight of the falling bar unrolls the blanket.

6. A spreader device comprising a frame, a roll mounted for rotation in the frame and carrying a blanket rolled thereon, a weight supported by the frame and attached to the end of the blanket, and a rod associated with the frame for moving the weight from the frame whereby the blanket is unrolled by the falling weight.

ARTHUR W. LAWSON. RICHARD A. DICKSON. 

